CSD 2019
Mini PCI: A New Alternative
By Shannon
Pleasant
As notebook computers have experienced pricing pressure similar to that experienced by desktop PCs, cost-effective and reliable integration of communication peripherals within the notebook platform has become a major issue for PC OEMs. Last year, bundling modem connectivity within notebooks increased significantly, totaling just under 40% of all notebooks shipped. The latest form factor option for embedding this connectivity is expected to increase that percentage to 95% by 2003.s
In the past, embedded solutions for notebook computers included either modem-on-board implementations or custom daughter-card implementations. Both of these solutions can be costly, introduce support issues, and tie the notebook to the modem, resulting in delays as the modem is certified in each international market the computer is shipped to.
In an effort to alleviate these issues, 3Com, AMP, Compaq, Dell, Gateway, Hitachi, IBM, Micron, Mobility Electronics, and Toshiba founded a roundtable
to put together a standard for a new notebook form factor. Their results were then turned over to the PCI Special Interest Group (PCI SIG) for evaluation and ratification. Mini PCI, the new form factor for communications peripherals in notebooks, offers several benefits over existing custom embedded solutions and PC cards. Because it is PCI-based, flexible, and backed by a credible standards body, Mini PCI offers economies of scale, relieves issues associated with homologation, and enables the build-to-order
model in notebook computers.
Additional benefits of the standardized form factor include:
- Broad and rapid acceptance by PC OEMs
- Second-sourcing for PC OEMs (lowers risk)
- Increased competition (cuts costs for the PC OEM)
- Economies of scale (cuts costs for the peripheral supplier).
How does Mini PCI change the economics of integrating modem connectivity into the notebook? Mini PCI is a very small daughter card, functionally equivalent to a
standard PCI expansion card, with a standard 32-bit PCI local bus, standard PCI BIOS/driver interface, and standard I/O. Mini PCI is based on PCI, so Windows applications cannot tell the difference between the two. The decision to work with the PCI bus was due to PCI’s wide acceptance and the rapid displacement of the ISA bus.
The Mini PCI specification allows for three basic form factors, giving hardware manufacturers greater placement flexibility for integrated communication peripherals, depending
on end-product demands. Because notebook computers come in several different sizes and shapes and are targeted at different price bands, a one-size-fits-all approach for Mini PCI is not possible. Instead, the specification provides for a variety of approaches, which will allow the market to determine which form factor will best suit its needs.
Type I Mini PCI cards are designed for full-featured systems (typically desktop replacements). The form factor is designed for flexibility in placement of the
card by using cabling to connect to the I/O.
Type II cards are designed for value-priced systems. The form factor has on-board modular connectors, which lowers the overall cost. Therefore, Type II is the simplest to maintain and warranty. The trade-off is in placement flexibility.
Type III cards are designed for the thin systems, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in the high-end notebook segment. The Type III form factor can be similar in cost to the Type I card, however, smaller
component heights have the potential to add to the bill-of-materials cost for these cards.
Although Mini PCI will experience limited penetration this year, it is expected to rapidly displace embedded on-board and daughter card implementations in 2000 and PC card shipments by the end of 2001. The result will be a Mini PCI card market that grows from 2.3 million units in 2000 to over 26 million units by 2003.
Shannon Pleasant is a senior analyst in the data and voice communications group
of Cahners In-Stat Group. She can be reached at
shannonp@instat.com
.
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